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43-home subdivision proposed in east Manchester

MANCHESTER - A proposal to build 43 new homes on a site in east Manchester will need some tweaking before it gets an up or down verdict from the city Planning Board.

Timberstone Development LLC is proposing the new subdivision on a 32-acre wooded parcel between Cohas Avenue and Brickett Road. A new street would be built between the roads to provide access to the new houses, which are projected to be priced at $300,000-400,000.

Planners finished a public hearing on the proposal this week, asking for some changes to the plans, including realigning a section of the new road so headlights won't shine through a resident's windows. Other public safety changes have also been suggested.

"They didn't have sidewalks in the original plan. Board consensus was they would like to see sidewalks added," said city planner Jonathan Golden.

City officials also called for a second means of entry and exit from the development. The original plan called for access through a single section of road. However, highway and fire officials said the size of the development requires two entrances for emergency purposes in case one is blocked.

Concerns were also raised about the quality of the Brickett Road pavement and whether it has deteriorated to the point where it must be rebuilt to handle additional traffic.

The road was built by a previous developer, Golden said. The builder will have engineers look at the road to see if it is up to the task or if a repaving job is needed.

Some residents have complained that the development may create or worsen flooding problems in their basements.

Planning Board members will hold a business session on Jan. 17, but Golden said it is uncertain whether work on the remaining issues will have progressed to the point where a final vote on the project can be taken.

Also up for consideration at the Jan. 17 business meeting will be a proposal to create a new indoor recreation complex in a former warehouse on Allard Drive.

That project's developers are looking for a conditional use permit that will allow them to provide fewer parking spaces than would otherwise be required by ordinance. But first, the developer of the Ultimate Sports Academy must make deals with the state to use small slices of the Interstate 93 right of way as part of the parking area.

The complex is projected to include indoor facilities for baseball, soccer, lacrosse and other sports.